Talking Politics

[RemoteTiger]

The vitriol each side of the political spectrum hold for the leader of the opposite side never ceases to amaze me. With all the talkback I heard today on radio not one person stated he thought one side win but they were voting for the other. Any views given by anyone on politics are tainted with bias - one only has to read Remotes' and Livers' posts on this thread (and that is not a criticism, just a fact).

I actually can't quite fathom why Howard has become so hated. Same with Keating.

Life rarely changes a great deal regardless of who is in power but at least at the moment we have Federal Liberal balanced by State Labor.

Ever since 1901 he who controls the middle ground of Australian Politics forms Government - hence a drive from the left towards the middle by Rudd - pushing his stamp on his cabinet and being swift to remove any strong handed unionists from the ALP and of course his conservative economics - all the while Howard is pushing from the right to the middle - through his backflips on Climate and softening of AWAs with the fairness board and his new Aboriginal policies.

The majority of Australians want middle of the road - they are comfortable there.

As for your statement about Federal and State Governments being different provides a check and a balance - nothing could be further from the truth - no matter which party holds govenment in either domain they always fight and blame the other.

The only real form of checks and balances in the Federal Government is the "House of Review" the Senate - and proof of that is the last 3 years where the Government has held a majority in the Senate and pushed through Right wing philosophies which have taken Australian towards the right of the politcal spectrum - away from the middle which has made Australians uncomfortable - remember they like the middle of the spectrum - and that is why Howard is not liked. (Keating did the same thing in 1996 - but he was leaning/dressed to the left)

 

[Six Pack]

if people voted for the best local candidate, irregardless of their party affiliation, we might get a more ethical and accountable govt. sure, the party system gives us stability but it also promotes bland, mediocre politicians.

 

[jb03]

Ruddy makes me laugh with his self instruction or self questioning: "Can I tell you something" or "Let me tell you something".

Life rarely changes a great deal regardless of who is in power but at least at the moment we have Federal Liberal balanced by State Labor.

Well that seems the great pity of it all to me Jimbob.

The battle for the middle is no democracy.

Howard,or Howard lite-Where's the choice?

Every 3 years we are given the illusion we're participating in our destinies when in effect we are just rubber stamping mediocrity.But people seem to like it that way it seems.Saves them thinking much about it i suppose.Just choose a team and hope it wins every 3 years.

It's bit like buying a membership for Richmond in way, and praying we can reach the lofty heights of 9th. ;D

Good post.

 

[Six Pack]

i tend to agree with the sentiments in this article:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22633365-5007146,00.html

 

[Azza]

C'mon Livo, little Johnny needs to head off to the outback and into the unknown after 30 odd years in front of our eyes.............and he can take Lou Costello's a-hole smirk with him.
Rudd's a bit raw but he seems tough and smart. All this talk about unions growing again is all garbage.

We'll see what is garbage once he is in power, Tigerforce.

The Hawke Keating years saw the deregulation of the Australian economy that economists see as being the foundation for the current strong economy that Howard is busy taking credit for. This union stuff is scare tactic, plain and simple.

 

[Liverpool]

The Hawke Keating years saw the deregulation of the Australian economy that economists see as being the foundation for the current strong economy that Howard is busy taking credit for. This union stuff is scare tactic, plain and simple.

:rofl..scare tactic?

The only true scare tactic has been the one on WorkChoices, lead by the Unions themselves.

Still haven't seen the unemployment levels shoot through the roof due to these 'disgraceful' WorkChoices yet...still haven't seen long lines of people waiting outside the local Centrelink yet either.

 

[Liverpool]

What has Howard said in relation to nuclear plants since he hit the hustings Livers?

I could say anything here, cause you won't remember anyway... ;D

The major parties are bereft of ideas. They will say and do whatever it takes to gain power, then use that power to feather the nests of their interests.
My disillusionment with the mainstream of Australian politics is profound.

SixPack,
You've said that you're going to go with the Greens...what ideas and policies have they got to give the voting public an alternative?
I haven't heard anything from them, apart from Brown wanting a senate-inquiry into why the worm got the flick. :-X

 

[Six Pack]

here you go, Livers.

http://greens.org.au/intro/

 

[Liverpool]

here you go, Livers.
http://greens.org.au/intro/

O.k:

* reduce greenhouse emissions by 30% by 2020 (80% by 2050)
* make workplaces fair and abolish WorkChoices
* bring Australian forces home from Iraq and Afghanistan
* build up public health services and include dental care
* keep uranium in the ground and Australia nuclear-free

Isn't this what Rudd is saying underneath all the insincere agreeing with the Government?

 

[Six Pack]

Ah, so he's lifting his policies from the Greens as well. or maybe the Greens lifted them from Rudd?

or was it the Libs?

 

[Azza]

The Hawke Keating years saw the deregulation of the Australian economy that economists see as being the foundation for the current strong economy that Howard is busy taking credit for. This union stuff is scare tactic, plain and simple.

:rofl..scare tactic?

Yep

 

[Disco08]

Doesn't Rudd support uranium mining?

 

[Six Pack]

Disco, it's not for me to tell u yr job, but do u reckon this thread and the debate thread should be merged?

 

[Disco08]

I think merging them now might make the last couple of day's conversations harder to follow so I'll just leave it 6y.

 

[Six Pack]

Fair enough, disco!

 

[Harry]

Howard won't win because he can't justifiably use his main weapon - his scare tactic on interest rates.

Mainstream Australians are stupid and that's all they care and think about.

 

[1eyedtiger]

:rofl..scare tactic?

The only true scare tactic has been the one on WorkChoices, lead by the Unions themselves.

Still haven't seen the unemployment levels shoot through the roof due to these 'disgraceful' WorkChoices yet...still haven't seen long lines of people waiting outside the local Centrelink yet either.

So, Howard's continuous moaning about 70% of Labors front bench being ex-union officials is not a scare tactic then?

Unemployment levels haven't risen due to the government's policy of redefining what employment actually is to suit it's own agenda.

 

[Liverpool]

So, Howard's continuous moaning about 70% of Labors front bench being ex-union officials is not a scare tactic then?
Unemployment levels haven't risen due to the government's policy of redefining what employment actually is to suit it's own agenda.

That is FACT though, 1-eyed....not a scare tactic.

Still waiting for all those thousands of unemployed people who got sacked under WorkChoices to come forward.....how's the line at Centrelink looking...have they shut down streets to cope with the amount of people yet?

The Unions were bleating about sackings, no holidays, no Christmas with the family, and all sorts of garbage...with no facts behind this whatsoever. THAT is a scare tactic.

 

[Azza]

The major parties are bereft of ideas. They will say and do whatever it takes to gain power, then use that power to feather the nests of their interests.

My disillusionment with the mainstream of Australian politics is profound.

Couldn't have said it better. What bothers me is that politics reflects society. We get the politicians we deserve.

 

[Azza]

That is FACT though, 1-eyed....not a scare tactic.

Still waiting for all those thousands of unemployed people who got sacked under WorkChoices to come forward.....how's the line at Centrelink looking...have they shut down streets to cope with the amount of people yet?

The Unions were bleating about sackings, no holidays, no Christmas with the family, and all sorts of garbage...with no facts behind this whatsoever. THAT is a scare tactic.

Immaterial to the fact that the union threat by Howard is a scare tactic.